Earlier today, we told you about the death of Joel Taylor, the out host of the Discovery reality show “Storm Chasers.”

Taylor died of a suspected GHB overdose while partying aboard a Royal Caribbean ship charted by gay cruise company Atlantis Events.

According to the New York Daily News, “passengers aboard the Harmony of the Seas added that they witnessed Taylor taking drugs, including ecstasy and cocaine.”

He was 38 years old.

According to TMZ, Taylor’s death has now piqued the curiosity of the FBI, who are launching an investigation. The website reports “huge quantities” of “party drugs” were on the ship, including Ecstasy, cocaine, and GHB.

Sources claim some people were arrested for drug possession before the ship set sail.

RIP my best friend and storm chasing partner, Joel Taylor. I am shocked and absolutely devastated by the loss of my incredible, caring friend. We chased so many intense storms, and I wish we could have just one more storm chase. I'll miss you forever, Joel. We lost a legend pic.twitter.com/htN45t8wik

“Cruise ships are not the place to have a medical emergency, whether you are gay, lesbian, transgendered, or straight. Cruise ships are often characterized by the questionable experience and training of the shipboard doctors and staff and the limited nature of the cruise ship’s medical facilities.”

Without getting into a debate over drug use, Walker makes a valid point. Safety wise, the last place a large crowd should be consuming copious amounts of drugs and alcohol is the middle of the open sea.

In related news, porn star boyfriends Jesse Jackman and Dirk Caber were on the same cruise. Dirk was later found unconscious and was hospitalized the night of Taylor’s death.

65 Comments

Paco

Jack Meoff

Drug use and drug addiction in the gay community is at crisis point and everyone turns a blind eye to it. It is the single most damaging issue that is currently being ignored within our community while everyone worries abut racism and toxic masculinity and other less urgent issues. When are we going to say it’s not OK to come to these events off your face or it’s not OK to PnP. Make these behaviours anti-social not sociably acceptable.

January 26, 2018 at 4:01am

CastleSF

Jack, I don’t know where you got this idea that drug use is socially accepted by most gays. I am staunchly against drug use because it goes against my moral fiber. On the other hand, please be more understanding why some guys do drugs to numb themselves or due to peer pressure. Just say no to drugs has not proven effective, though in some way I wish our laws could be a little tougher in order to put the addicts to halfway housing for mandatory treatments.

January 26, 2018 at 1:01pm

barkomatic

Yikes, I think this might be the end up the party ship era now that the FBI is involved.

How did the drugs get on the ship? Really? The FBI actually needs to investigate that? Please.

calpoidog

ChrisK

Hussain-TheCanadian

@Chris

Wow wow wow hold on a second, it was not, I repeat, it was not the fairy drug mother. That heffa was at my place during the alleged time of delivery.

January 25, 2018 at 10:01pm

batesmotel

Atlantis is open to drugs being on their cruises. It’s pretty known that it’s acceptable. They want an open environment for gays to feel comfortable, even if that means drugs. Others have died of drug overdoses on these ship cruises. Eventually Atlantis will get shut down over this. I’m surprised they haven’t yet.

January 26, 2018 at 9:01pm

bushwickfreddy

It’s absolutely sad and horrible, but who in the hell over the age of 18, would think it a good idea to do copious amounts of drugs on a cruise ship?

spacecadet

I agree with your sentiment but rampant drug use is an epidemic in gay culture whether on a cruise ship or not. It’s all about getting high and getting off. There needs to be more outreach and education on the subject in the gay community.

January 25, 2018 at 3:01pm

rmatthews

spacecadet, thank you. Agreed. That’s how this should be approached.

Articles like this damage the reputation of the gay community, Atlantis and the cruise line. Guess what? Straight people do drugs too. At music festivals, raves, etc.. Straight cruises are family-oriented, so you won’t see much of that activity there.

They should create an awareness campaign, letting people know that they need to seek medical attention immediately in a situation like this, even if they fear getting kicked off the ship.

January 26, 2018 at 2:01am

Xzamilloh

I mean, I quit smoking 2 years ago, and that alone is a “Why would you ever do that knowing the harms of it” moment, but that people are still acting like it’s the 70s in open waters doing 8 balls and acting a damn fool on a boat that has marine life waiting for your drunk ass to fall overboard

Curtispsf

GHB and Ecstasy are SO 90s. Grow up and enter the 21st Century with your mind and body intact. GHB does not have much of a dose tolerance; the difference between a buzz and an overdose is very small. And if you drink alcohol while on GHB you can kiss your arse goodbye. /|\

ChrisK

I thought that too but apparently not. I used to do GHB and had allot of fun with it. You have to be very careful when dosing and that would be difficult if your high on other drugs.

GHB used to be even sold in health food stores back in the late 90s. I used to buy it at GNC. The one I liked was called blue nitro. I only used it as a sleep aid because it knocks you out fast.

January 25, 2018 at 5:01pm

seaguy

Haven’t you heard the 90’s are back. It is retro for millenials.

January 25, 2018 at 11:01pm

EvonCook

Too bad the enjoyment of all the guys, the sex and the orgy weren’t enough of a high because the drugs’ noteriety wiil now just make the whole thing collapse. It only takes a few careless idiots to ruin things.

Geeker

seaguy

No one is perfect. One fight and then one getting sick is hardly a divorce.

January 25, 2018 at 11:01pm

glasshole

Dirk had walking pneumonia and didn’t know until he passed out. As someone who’s also had that, you just feel a bit run down for a few days and then you feel like your soul is trying to escape through your lungs. That wasn’t drug-related. They’re still a healthy and well-adjusted couple, as far as we can tell.

January 26, 2018 at 6:01pm

SPEEDOSWIMMER

Prax07

Never hesrd of him before this article, but no sympathy from me anyway. When a drug user bites the dust I say good, one less stupid person cluttering up the world. No one to blame but himself, poor judgement equals poor results.

CastleSF

You are certainly entitled to your feeling and opinions about the drug use. I have often been told myself that I can be harsh on people who use but don’t take responsibility for their reckless behaviors. Nonetheless, your comments sound exceedingly unkind.

January 25, 2018 at 7:01pm

MinnesotaNotNice

I completely agree with you. I don’t view your comments as being unkind, it’s just telling a harsh truth that unfortunately happens over and over again among gay men.

January 25, 2018 at 8:01pm

ChrisK

What about someone OD’g on prescription drugs or having a fatal heart attack from poor eating choices. Does your sympathy extend to them or just not to anyone that makes some mistakes in their lives?

January 25, 2018 at 10:01pm

seaguy

Well not everyone can be as perfect as you and only make the best judgements in life. People make mistakes it is part of being human and for some they have a disease that leads them to make poor decisions to use drugs, it is called addiction. To just assume that everyone who dies of a drug overdose is a stupid person who deserved what they got is rather callus and would you feel that way had the victim been someone you knew like a friend or relative?

January 25, 2018 at 11:01pm

spacecadet

Sounds like you never make any mistakes in your life. What’s your secret?

Not condoning the behavior but some otherwise very intelligent people use drugs whether it’s a rampant addiction or a more casual use. Sometimes all it takes is one time depending on the drug to be fatal. No one, including yourself, is perfect.

January 26, 2018 at 8:01am

Mandrake

What is this BS under the Prax07 replies about “mistakes”?? A mistake implies an unintentional decision that turned out to be wrong. Taking drugs in party situations is not a mistake. It’s called STUPID, and sadly there are many stupid people. They’re everywhere. They lack basic common sense and responsibility. I totally agree with Prax.

January 26, 2018 at 9:01am

batesmotel

Well there is a reason they’re doing hard drugs. Usually it’s to escape their reality, because if ones reality is fantastic, then they don’t crave a drug. There is also quite a bit of unstable emotions among many gays, not all, but many. This prompts some to escape in a drug, when going to a mental health professional to be prescribed something less dangerous would be more efficient. At least you’ll last on the planet a bit longer than mixing cocaine, ecstasy and G-whatever the hell it was else he took with all of that.

January 26, 2018 at 9:01pm

jhon_siders

I know a lot of guys that say they have to do drugs to have a good time That’s to me a brain dead person both figuratively and litterly .

seaguy

If you know a lot of guys that say they have to do drugs to have a good time. Did they all say they had to, or that they just do drugs? If they say they have to, do you ever ask them why? Maybe they meant with YOU? They have to do drugs to have a good time with you. Especially if more than person that you know tells you that. What do you do while they are doing drugs? Do you sit there silently judging them? Surely, you can’t be serious? How is it you know figuratively, but not literally? I can’t get over that. “litterly”.

January 26, 2018 at 3:01am

tnguy222

Any curious, adventurous, or interested human who desires a full life of this earth will try anything at least once.

CastleSF

Well, that’s the problem, tnguy. A lot of people try not just once or twice but many times over. Some people can quit eventually but many can’t and end up getting addicted to the hard drugs and having their life tragically ruined.

January 26, 2018 at 12:01am

IanHunter

It’s a damn shame to lose him.
The one thing about these cruises are that everyone knows who has the “party drugs”. I have been on three cruises and everyone was always hooked up with something, or someone. I don’t think this will end the cruises, but I hope that everyone will be more careful about what they are taking and know where the drugs are coming from. There are people that book the cruises just to sell the drugs. I just preferred the alcohol. It is not a picture of the community, just a group of people that let their guard down and make bad decisions. I hope that this will serve as a warning to a lot of younger men that want to just get laid on these trips, and make them aware of the dangers.

CastleSF

What I don’t understand is, you are on a beautiful cruise, an adventure most people can only dream of, with gourmet food and 24-hour world class entertainment. There are so many things you can do and so many places you can visit on this journey. You can watch the gorgeous sunset and sip wine by the pool. You are one of the luckiest few in the world who get to enjoy the luxury of money can buy. So, why are people doing drugs on a cruise?

January 26, 2018 at 12:01am

Paco

@CastleSF = They are basically crowded onto a floating sex club where looks do matter a lot and probably need the drugs to improve their self esteem.

January 26, 2018 at 12:01am

spacecadet

@CastleSF, It sounds so high school but you see one or more people in your circle of friends doing party drugs and whether they’re offering them to you or not you then want to take them yourself to fit into the crowd. So it’s often that or peer pressure. And if they’re hot, beautiful people who look like they’re having so much fun while on them you may be curious to get on them too and see what the fuss is about. 15-20 years ago when I was coming out and going to the gay clubs and ecstasy (“X”) was all the rage (and among straight people at raves as well). Friends/acquaintances/the muscle boys, all of them seemed to be taking it. Somehow I never once used it, but yeah, the curiosity was there.

January 26, 2018 at 8:01am

Jaxton

But, but, but I’m a gay guy. I want to fit in, you know. I take my top off at dance parties where I shimmy to bad lyrics accompanied by a thumping beat. Drugs give me a buzz.

I want to look cool to my fellow gay hedonists, you know. It’s the rule, you know. At the end of the night, even a fat ugly bear looks hot.

IanHunter

I am sure that you could take your take your shirt off and no one would complain. Just live your life and be free of prejudice. Love is better than a life of similitude.

January 25, 2018 at 11:01pm

ChrisK

I’m sure I would..

January 26, 2018 at 11:01am

Tête Carrée

Piss off hetero troll.
“top”? You must be a trollette and an “ugly” one at that.

January 28, 2018 at 6:01am

seaguy

There will always be some drugs on a cruise. But it seems like these Atlantis cruises which tend to attract guys who take cruises often, have caused the regulars to become a little complacent and to forget that if you are going to do drugs during the cruise you need to be discreet and use common sense like not taking G if you have been drinking alcohol.

If I recall there was a guy busted for smuggling drugs onto an Atlantis cruise a few years ago. I guess not one learned from that?

ChicagoSteve

I was on that cruise that had the two guys get busted for drugs and the captain kicked him off the boat on one of the islands. They had to find their own way back to the United States.

January 26, 2018 at 12:01pm

happiness17

First of all my sympathies go out to Joel’s family, friends and co-workers,
His death was so tragic and uncalled for. Too many people think they can
use a lot of drugs and that nothing is going to happen to them. That’s why more and more people are dying of overdoses every day. Secondly I didn’t know that Joel was gay. He was very hot and manly. I would’ve snuggled up to him in a New York minute. R.I. P. Joel

rmatthews

I wish people would save their judgment. And I don’t like the tone of how this article is written.

I’ve been on cruises, and people are going to bring drugs. There’s no way to screen everything, and catch everything coming aboard the ship. Some people are going to do dangerous drugs, like G. People fear getting kicked off the ship for possession (ruining their vacation), and some people don’t seek medical attention, or get medical attention for their friends, as a result. Some people put their lives at stake for this.

I don’t know if that is what happened here, or not.

Instead of damaging the reputation of Atlantis (who surely does not promote or condone this activity) or the cruise line, how about approaching this problem as an awareness campaign? People need to know that they should seek medical attention immediately when encountering a situation such as this.

rmatthews

Also, Queerty, using TMZ as a “news source” doesn’t do wonders for your reputation.

“The night that Taylor died, “party drugs” were reportedly “flowing freely” among revelers, TMZ reports.” – how about confirming that first? And what does that even mean? Like people were doing them in public? I’ve been on Atlantis cruises, and never seen anything of the sort. I know there were people doing drugs, but they were discrete about it.

How about confirming that he died from a drug overdose, before you report it and start writing about the subject?

January 26, 2018 at 2:01am

DJRM

How about Atlantic doing something about the rampant drug use on their cruises?

Every single person I’ve ever known that has done a gay cruise since they first EXISTED has commented on how amazing it is that people get THAT much drugs on board…every time.

We all know, for a fact, that if you’re on an Atlantis cruise, you really don’t even need to bring your own drugs because anything you want is SUPER easy to get right on the ship.

How the FBI is just cluing into this is startling… Atlantis deserves the reputation they get for allowing this to happen.

Easy fix? Full screening of every passenger before they board. Can’t be too difficult to find the guys with 500 pills in their bags.

January 26, 2018 at 7:01pm

rhino79

Overdosing on GHB on a cruise ship dancefloor is the gayest death ever.

rmatthews

Yeah, now is definitely the time to make insensitive jokes.

January 26, 2018 at 12:01pm

DJRM

Insensitive or not, it’s funny ’cause it’s true!

January 26, 2018 at 7:01pm

Prax07

@Seaguy Absolutely, if it was a friend or family member I’d feel the same. And if I knew about their drug use prior to their stupidly od’ing they’d have been kicked out of my life already anyway.
And it might be viewed as being callous and I really don’t care. If a person is too stupid to realize their behavior might have deadly consequences and it does turn deadly, that’s on them, their own fault, no excuses, and no sympathy at all for them. This Joel guy had a good life, he made stupid decisions that ended it, and oh well. He made those decisions on his own. He’s dead because of his own choices, so no great cosmic loss there.

Tête Carrée

You sound just like the Church Lady talking about gay people and their “choices”.
If you feel that way, why did you bother to comment on this “unworthy” person. Did it up your azzhole content?

January 28, 2018 at 5:01am

Prax07

@spacecadet If those intelligent people you refer to were actually intelligent then they wouldn’t be putting themselves stupidly at risk by doing these drugs. Again, if they OD and die, they really weren’t all that smart now were they? Doesn’t matter to me if it was their first time or two thousandth time, they are/were stupid for doing it and don’t deserve any sympathy or compassion after doing it.

CastleSF

@Prax, there are medications for all kinds ailments but no drug works for a hardened heart. Only when you get older will you become more compassionate and merciful.

January 26, 2018 at 5:01pm

ChicagoSteve

I was on the Atlantis cruise a few years ago when they held it on the Allure of the Seas. A guy got into a fight with his boyfriend and jumped off of his room balcony to his death. Very sad for such a joyous cruise celebrating being your true self.

DJRM

OMG! There are RECREATIONAL DRUGS ON CRUISE SHIPS?!?!?

WHAT a SHOCK.

Not.

How THIS is spawning an FBI investigation is beyond me as rampant drug use on gay cruises has been going on for as long as a “gay cruise” has existed. The FBI is, like, two DECADES late to checking out what’s going on at THESE parties…*SMH*

There’s a reason I have never had ANY interest in doing one of these things…being trapped on a floating bath house with drugged out queens? No thanks…I’ll choose a non-gay cruise any day of the week.

That being said, I feel sorry for the guy…but it’s tough to have too much pity for anyone who overdoses. And on a cruise ship, no less. Even my friends who have struggled with addiction would wholeheartedly agree.

surreal33

o.codone

I’d say leave people alone, let’s not go all preachy and judgmental on people, leave it alone. When my friends start lecturing me about my drug use I just shut down. Someone’s little public service warning isn’t going to change my behavior or save my life. Nobody’s that influential.

the_ashpan

Over here in the UK (and most gay clubs i’ve been to in Europe) it’s mainly the straight people that come down to gays-ville to find themselves a new gay BFFhat seem to over-do the drugs and ruin things for everyone…..